THE LIMESTONE LINK
The
'Limestone Link' is a route of 36 miles joining the limestone of the
Cotswolds to that of the Mendip Hills, passing through the Parish of
High
Littleton and Hallatrow. It is a connecting route between the
Cotswold Way at Cold Ashton and the West Mendip Way at Shipham.
Between the
two, the route passes through the valleys and villages
south of
Bath. Except for an ascent at each end, the walk is mostly
flat and not strenuous.
Included
are 12 circular walks varying in length from three to twelve miles,
each using a part of the ‘Link’. Cyril
Trenfield, of the Avon Area Ramblers'
Association, was
inspired to
devise the 'Link' by a reference in a Wansdyke District Council
Structure Plan to the desirability of having such a path
running
across the south part of Avon & connecting with the Cotswold Way.
It was walked, written and published by Yatton Ramblers who have
endeavoured
to provide correct and accurate routes. May
we please ask walkers to observe the new Country Code, in particular
leaving gates closed
or open as found, causing no damage, keeping dogs
under control and leaving no litter.
Click
here for a key to symbols used on maps
Click
here for Map 1
Click
here for Map 2
Click
here for Map 3
Past
old colliery sites and through the canal basin at Paulton.
Distance:
6.5 miles
Along
road for a few hundred yards and R. on B/way before large pylon,
stream on your R. Cross it, through gateway, then gate to road. T.R.
and
almost immediately. 1. through gate opposite house. Straight
on through field but soon bear R. to stile on top of bank. Cross and
follow path to L.
on old railway track for 0.25 mile. At end,
NOT down L., but up R. to K/G by house. Down in front of house
and where lane bends L. you should
bear R., then L. round backs of
other houses. Keep on down drive to another house and go round back of
this too, then down to wire fence and
stile.
T
. R. ,keeping wire fence on your R., towards old wooded colliery tip.
Walk round it keeping by fence which is now
on your L. Over stile and
down field towards buildings. At end of field through gate into former
mine yard. Straight on in front of a house on your R..to tarmac track
ahead. At
end emerge onto main road via new small housing estate at
Camerton. Cross
road and take track by telephone box, not through the gate but to L.
of it between fence and back gardens (old towpath) until wooden K/G
and gate into garden are reached. Walk
right through the middle of the garden
via
another wicket gate and straight on, keeping up on towpath to another
wooden K/G and tarmac track. Double back, i.e., sharply L. to
edge of
track. Cross it and L. between hedge and garden (Not down
track, see f/p post), in front of garage, then R. down drive to road.
Click
here for Map 1
T.R.
and walk on road to T-junction at Radford, where R. up road 75 yards
across old railway bridge. T.L.and by electricity pole a few yards
down this
road, go L. over stile. Over another stile and on along old
railway track. Bear L. when farmhouse is seen, and over stile. L. up
track and follow it round
towards this house. R. over second stile. Straight
on, keeping by hedge, over stile, then stile by iron gate. Bear R.to
just L. of oak tree, ignoring stile
on R. Cross a track and straight
on in damp depression (canal bed) to next stile. On with fence on L.
to stile with dog flap. Straight on along old
canal towpath, over next
two stiles and bear L to stile with iron bars. T.R. and walk beside
stream. This is a permissive path.
Over
next stile and bear R. to post. Notice the old Paulton canal basin on
your R. Bear R. at post (NOT to bridge across field), over stile and
slightly
R. along bank to next post by new pond. L. across field, over
stile and bridge across stream and continue to tarmac drive at sewage
works. T. R .
down it to road, where R. again to Goosard Bridge.
Immediately
over the bridge T.L. over stile and down steps. T.R. over stile at
bottom and before
reaching old railway track
(which is now a
permissive path and an alternative route). The main route uses field
paths parallel with the railway track.
Cross field and over wooden,
then iron, stiles. Bear R. in next field to another iron stile below
barn. Bear L. across field to bridge and cross next field
to double
stile and bridge. Then along L. H. edge of field, which may be
ploughed.
Click
here for Map 2
At
next hedge T .R. and walk about 30 yards up the field beside it to
another double stile and bridge. Back down the other side and continue
round
edge of large field (again, possibly ploughed) .At end, T.L.
over stile and cross old railway track to stile opposite. Here you
join the permissive path,
see below. * Bear R. over field and up lane
to road at Hallatrow. For shop and pub, T.L.. To
continue route, cross road to stone squeeze stile and
another stile at
end of fenced-in lane. Cross next field diag.R. to stile to old
railway track, which path crosses diag. Over bridge. Follow
obvious path
between two hills, stream on your L. Go on to F/B on
your L. , cross it, up slope and over stile. Do NOT go over next
bridge, but keep on path to L.
with stream on your R. and over stile.
The
path skirts round the bottom of the hill through bracken for 0.5 mile,
then over stile and leave stream. In
next field keep up at foot of
slope and follow path to stile in middle of hedge. Do not turn up L.
or go through gate 25 yards lower. Straight
on, over stile
by metal gate with church in view. Make for
stile in hedge ahead, then to stile by gate to old railway track.
Cross this and straight on path towards
Clutton church. Onto road at
K/G and T .R, still going towards church.
*
Permissive Path: if you have chosen this path along the old
railway track, facing you on the track will be some conifered mounds
40 yards ahead
blocking progress. Take stile on L., which is stile at
* above, then proceed as text above.
Click
here for Map 3
Issue
8 of the Parish Newsletter contained a short article on the Limestone
Link. Click on the photograph to read this article.
If you enjoy rambling, take a
look at the website www.Walking-Routes.co.uk
which contains links to over 600 websites with detailed directions,
maps
and descriptions of an estimated 3000 walks throughout the UK;
some of which are in and around our
Parish.
(return to top
of page)
